Yoon Jisu (R) of South Korea competes against Zaynab Dayibekova of Uzbekistan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
HANGZHOU, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Yoon Ji-su of South Korea secured her second Asiad individual gold after a 15-10 victory over China's Shao Yaqi at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Tuesday, while Koki Kano beat compatriot Akira Komata to win the men's epee individual.
Shao cruised to a 15-10 victory over Seri Ozak of Japan and set up the final against Incheon 2014 gold medalist Yoon after the latter just edged past Zaynab Dayibekova of Uzbekistan 15-14.
After leading 2-1 in the opening moments, Shao was overcome by a 7-0 run from the South Korean and lost the final 15-10.
"I didn't do well in the first half. I was trapped in her pace and had too many mistakes," Shao explained. "I adjusted a little bit in the second half, but it was hard for me to catch up as I trailed too many points."
"She handled the details better," Shao, who also bagged a silver at the last Asian Games in Jakarta, admitted that she's a bit disappointed with the result. "We will go all out for the team gold."
China's Yang Hengyu was knocked out by Dayibekova in the quarterfinal.
In the all-Japanese men's epee individual final, Kano outperformed his teammate to convert his Jakarta 2018 bronze into gold.
"I'm so happy to win gold, it's a very good feeling. I'm happy to have fenced against my team-mate. It was a difficult match," said Kano. "I now have the team match to look forward to in the next few days."
China's Yu Lefan and Wang Zijie finished in the seventh and 10th place, respectively.
The men's foil and women's epee team events are scheduled for Wednesday. ■
Yoon Jisu (L) of South Korea competes against Zaynab Dayibekova of Uzbekistan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Yoon Jisu (R) of South Korea competes against Zaynab Dayibekova of Uzbekistan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Yoon Jisu of South Korea reacts after Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Shao Yaqi (L) of China competes against Ozaki Seri of Japan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Shao Yaqi (R) of China competes against Ozaki Seri of Japan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Shao Yaqi (R) of China competes against Ozaki Seri of Japan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Shao Yaqi (L) of China competes against Ozaki Seri of Japan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Shao Yaqi (L) of China competes against Ozaki Seri of Japan during Women's Sabre Individual Semifinal of Fencing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Shao Yaqi of China, Yoon Jisu of South Korea, Ozaki Seri of Japan and Zaynab Dayibekova of Uzbekistan (L to R) attend awarding ceremony of the Women's Sabre Individual at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Gold medalist Kano Koki (2nd L) of Japan, silver medalist Komata Akira (1st L) of Japan, bronze medalist Ho Wai Hang of China's Hong Kong and Elmir Alimzhanov of Kazakhstan react during the victory ceremony for the Men's Epee Individual final at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
